บท 36: Chapter 36

"Welcome back, Porzia," he said, leaning over to give me a quick hug.

"Thanks." My answer exhaled in veiled surprise. How long had he been standing behind me?

"It's been a while," he sighed, letting go of me.

Did he mean a while about the photos I was looking at? Or perhaps how long he'd been standing behind me? Or about last time we'd seen each other? And why did I feel like I had been caught snooping?

"I don't know how to answer you, Clark," I admitted candidly.

He raised an eyebrow and rocked on his heels, thumbs stuck in his jeans pockets. A slow grin spread across his face and I saw Gabe, years from now. His grin was so contagious, I found my own.

"When did you get in?"

"Yesterday."

His bushy eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "And he has you down here already?" he chided, turning his head in Gabe's direction.

"No big deal," I shrugged. "Gomi called the house asking for help."

"I thought everything was under control," Clark remarked.

"What's going on anyway?"